Unregulated alcohol not in our interest

PHIL WAYT, GUEST COLUMNIST

Published
9:00 pm PST, Tuesday, March 28, 2006

By endorsing an unregulated environment for alcohol in Washington state ("Cork the fee," Friday), the P-I Editorial Board has fallen hook, line and sinker for the self-interested arguments of the big corporations that see an opportunity to profit by dismantling the state's regulatory system. In doing so, the P-I is supporting an unregulated environment for alcohol sales and distribution, not just for the big corporations, but for everyone.

By calling the state's regulatory system on beer and wine distribution and sales a "weed" and saying, "all this system does is cost consumers money," the P-I is advancing irresponsible arguments that place higher profits for those big corporations above the safeguards and protections of our children and our communities.

It is true that removing the regulatory system may reduce some prices to consumers. But it would do so in exchange for an environment of unregulated access to alcohol in Washington, with little or no safeguards on alcohol sales. Do Washington residents really want to trade state safeguards in exchange for some lower prices?

I'm sure Washingtonians would not want to weaken the safeguards on beef, just because it would make beef cheaper. Nor would they want to weaken the safeguards on tobacco, medications or explosives just to make them cheaper.

By the same token, Washington residents certainly wouldn't want to weaken the safeguards on the distribution and sale of alcohol just so some retailers can sell it more cheaply.

The P-I states, "We need a regulatory structure that works for this century's consumers." There is nothing antiquated about the state having safety regulations for the distribution and sale of alcohol that protect children and encourage moderate consumption. It is actually very forward thinking. When the public interest is at stake, the state has the right -- and the responsibility -- to protect its residents.

Beer and wine distributors provide valuable services to consumers and the public. Distributors purchase the products, check them for safety, guard against product tampering and impurities, record alcohol sales, pay the state taxes, assist retailers with product selection and marketing and enforce the state's alcohol laws.

"Carrying fees" are not added at any point in the process. There is a minimum markup of 10 percent in place and for good reason; if a beer or wine product doesn't sell, it can't be marked down to nearly free and sold in massive quantities.

Alcohol is not the same as bran flakes or toothpaste. We need safeguards in place to protect families against underage drinking and alcohol abuse. Cheap, unregulated alcohol is not in the public interest, and the P-I is irresponsible to suggest otherwise.